Eaton found not fit to proceed

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    Shawn Douglas Eaton of Mountain Home, who is charged with a number of offenses having to do with inappropriate contact with young girls, has been found unfit to proceed in the cases filed against him, according to an announcement made during a session of Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday.
    The finding was based on a forensic evaluation done by Dr. Stephen P. Nicholas.
    Eaton faced charges of sexual indecency with a child and two counts of 2nd degree sexual assault. He was originally arrested in July after Mountain Home Police were called to the Donald W. Reynolds Library. The victim in that case was an 11-year-old female who told police that a man identified as Eaton came up to her in the library and touched her inappropriately. She said she pushed his arm and that he stepped away a short distance and then exposed himself.
    According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, Eaton is alleged to have told investigators that he engaged in such behavior frequently.
    Eaton was also involved in another incident that took place in July at a retail store on State Highway 5 South. Investigators said the second incident also involved an 11-year old girl. She reported being groped in her "private area" and Eaton is said to have admitted to approaching the girl and touching her inappropriately.
    The next incident took place in late August when Eaton is alleged to have exposed himself to a 10-year-old girl. The girl told investigators that Eaton was outside her mother's home when the girl went outside to ride her bicycle and that he had exposed himself.
    Neither the state nor the defense objected to the findings of the forensic evaluation. Proceedings in the cases filed against the 20-year-old Eaton will be suspended and he is being committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services for detention, care and treatment.
    DHS was ordered to report back to the court within 10 months.
    According to court records in a guardianship case filed in late 2013, Eaton was described by a local medical doctor as bipolar. A guardian was appointed for him due to his condition.

   

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